LETTER FROM SACLEPEA – Written in the Twin Cities, Minnesota

By Hon. Musa Hassan Bility

It has been about ten days since my arrival in the United States, and this time, I am writing from the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. In these few days, I have met Liberians from every walk of life, from every political persuasion, tribe, and faith. What has struck me most is not our differences but our shared respect for one another.

Here, tribe does not define us. Religion does not divide us. Political affiliation does not make us enemies. In every Liberian gathering I have attended, I have seen people express their views freely, sometimes passionately, but always respectfully. And I have asked myself, why is this possible here and yet so difficult back home?

Perhaps it is because of the American system itself, the culture of tolerance, law, and freedom that shapes every interaction. Perhaps it is because of the shared experience of being minorities in a foreign land, where unity becomes a necessity for survival and progress. Or perhaps it is because, deep within us, we all desire a Liberia that works like this, a Liberia that respects its people regardless of tribe, religion, or politics.

What moves me most is how capable Liberians in the diaspora are. I have met entrepreneurs in the Twin Cities whose brilliance and creativity inspire admiration. I have seen professionals, students, and community leaders who make Liberia proud every single day. They embody competence, discipline, and the relentless drive that our homeland so desperately needs.

It makes me realize something powerful: we have already built a better version of Liberia in the diaspora. The question now is how to bring that Liberia home.

How do we transfer this culture of harmony, mutual respect, and accountability to our politics? How do we move beyond celebrity politics, beyond the politics of sympathy and crowd size, to the politics of substance, where leaders are judged not by popularity but by their record, their integrity, and their service?

As I prepare to leave the United States, one conviction remains unshaken in my heart: the America that shaped our constitution and inspired our founding fathers must once again inspire our governance. But not merely in words, we must live the principles that made this nation great, rule of law, accountability, hard work, and respect for one another.

Come 2029, we must bring the diaspora back home, not just physically but intellectually and morally. We must bring America’s system of accountability, fairness, and order into our Liberian political culture. Only then will our politicians be held truly accountable for their stewardship, past, present, and future.

That is my reflection from the Twin Cities.

That is my message from America.

That is my hope for Liberia.